Q&A with Tony Sparano

August 20, 2010|South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The following is a team-released transcript of Dolphins coach Tony Sparano's news conference following Thursday's practice:

(On his observations and assessment of the camp as a whole) - "Well, we've had some really good days out here, I think (we've) gotten a lot of good work, quality quality work with our installs versus each other. That won't end here. We'll continue that over the next ten days or so probably once we get into single practices. But, I think we've gotten a lot of good work in. So, at times a little bit inconsistent. Not really efficient at times. But I think for the most part some pretty good work in some critical areas."

(On Jake Long leaving the field early today in practice) - "Just had some cramps, that's it."

(On if Pat Cobbs is sort of the default option as the kick returner) - "No, I don't think he's a default option. You just have to really understand what Patrick Cobbs does for our team in special teams. So, and I'm well aware that the return game is something that we need to improve on. But, Pat does a lot of jobs and he does them all really well. So, some of those areas we have to evaluate his return ability compared to maybe how he does another job there and the value of that. And I think that's probably where we are right now so at this time when you have 80 bodies out here and you have some young guys that maybe have return ability in their past, you probably want to see them a little bit, so."

(On if it's rare for a guy like Pat Cobbs to have that many different jobs/roles) - "Yeah, well I think it's rare in that you don't find too many players at times with the ability that Pat has to put the team first in every possible situation, so. And this guy puts the team first always and whatever you ask him to do he's going to do it and he's probably going to do it pretty good."

(On what he saw in Randy Thomas and what made them acquire him) - "Well of course Randy has had history with Dan Henning. He's had history with Bill (Parcells). Chad Pennington has played with him, so, I've coached against him an awful lot in the NFC East and--I was always thought this guy was really a very very solid player at the position. At one point I thought he was maybe one of the better players at his position. Tough, smart veteran player that was out there and we're here now in the third week of training camp and we thought might be a good opportunity to bring him and take a look and see where he is."

(On if he has a philosophy on playing starters on special teams) - "No, I don't have really a philosophy, I have more of a philosophy about play counts and where those things might be. If there's two players out there that I think give us--in other words, another player out there that gives us the ability to rest a starter and not play them on special teams I'll do it .At this particular time Chris Clemons is playing a lot of safety, but Chris Clemons is also a guy that's on the punt teamÃÂplayed on four core last year, but, the punt team is something--I don't want to have what happened the other night happen. I don't want a blocked punt. "So, I don't really want to have to settle in some of those situations--so maybe a guy like (Chris) Clemons if he were the safety is going to have to play on that unit. I have no problem using starters but I think that when you put the roster together you're putting the roster together trying to visualize roles for some of these other big body players--the linebackers, the running backs, even some of these tight ends and maybe where they can help you a little bit and take some of the wear and tear off of those guys."

(On if he's having Tim Dobbins play in Saturday's game) - "No, I think we got to see where Tim is right now, but, he's had two three practices. We're well aware, we're monitoring where he is with the ankle right now, but, if we can we'd like to see him play in the game. We'd like to see what he does in the game in some of those situations. But, we'll make that evaluation as we get a little closer. Today's practice is really a walk through this afternoon. Tomorrow we really for our own tense purposes it's kind of the same thing. So, I got a lot time between now and the game for that to feel pretty good."

(On what's more important to him on the kick return game, consistency or electricity) -"I would say that from my end having the ability to be able to bring the ball back--that kind of electricity, if that's what you called it, I think is pretty important. So, I like consistency I like knowing I'm going to get the ball on the 26 yard line but I'd like to know that occasionally we can take one the distance there if you missed a tackle. I think that that's pretty important."

(On if he's picking both consistency and electricity--follow up to previous question) - "Yeah, I'm putting my toe in the water on that one (laughing)."